Jillyshelly: Proverbially Speaking

In case you’re wondering what’s going on in this crazy head of mine at any given moment, here it is:

Wow.  I’m hungry but my acid reflux… probably shouldn’t eat much.  I wonder if Baby Girl will come today… oh the pain… I can’t think about it.  It’s nothing like what Jesus had to go through, I should suck it up and stop sinning by worrying.  I suck.

Hmmm… I still need to return those curtains to amazon and sell this, this, and that.  Oh and either have that yard sale (darn weekend rain forecast) or donate it.  I need my garage cleared of all that junk so I can spray paint the front porch table black.  Oh I need to get the carseats installed still and pick up that changing table.  I wonder if this will get done before baby girl arrives.

Oh no Eli is still struggling with his pooh issues… when will he get better?

Okay, so now the garden is “planted” but will it grow?  Will the wild squirrels and neighbors’ dogs attack it?  Is that compost mound actually working or are we creating a health hazard?  Gosh, there are a lot of weeds in my yard… those poor people that sold us this house had no idea we would ruin their landscaping so quickly.

Gosh, I’m tired but Justice still won’t nap.  I need to do some laundry and clean out the interior of the car anyway.  And the floors… need scrubbed and vacuumed again… and spot cleaned… along with the coffee stain from two days ago that I have let sit and stink in the couch.

Lord, please oh please give me strength.  I acknowledge I am living the high life… I can’t imagine what mothers in third world countries are thinking right now… gotta go to the well and get water… not, will we homeschool?  Will we have more kids?  Will we ever adopt?  How will we afford this house and kids if I don’t go back to work in a few years?  Kids are expensive.  Will we ever afford to travel again?

UGH BRAIN!  THIS IS WHY SLEEP ELUDES ME!

I confess. Raising godly children who love and serve Jesus is my main goal as a mom – and possibly failing at that job scares the capooey out of me. This article is very encouraging to me (and adds yet another reason why I can’t shake my desire to home school my kids even though I try to talk myself out of it).  If you’re a parent or considering taking the plunge some day, check out “Daring Mothers & Daughters” on passionatehomemaking.com.

1. Womb Dweller is 38 weeks today
2. The garden is still not finished
3. The yard sale did not happen yet… due to sleepless nights
4. I am going to work on a hosptial iPod play-list and scripture cards for birthing day
5. Hubby doesn’t feel well… makes me sad for him
6. The Lord is so patient and good! Thankful!
What’s new with you?

(This pre-kids pic proves that Eli gets his amazing hair from his daddy)

I am planning on having a “real” yard sale this Saturday. What I mean by “real” is that I am actually preparing my items (cleaning, pricing) and planning on advertising via a Central Road sign and Craigslist. Last year I had an impromptu yard sale that yielded me about $20! I didn’t advertise at all and it only lasted 2 hours… most of the remaining items were sent to Goodwill and Vineyard Community Church as usual. I priced things so low at this sale that one shopper gave me the advice that I priced them too low! I’m not accustomed to selling my things. Usually we give away all our unwanted items throughout the year (cause honestly, it’s easier to do).  I still pass on most of our boy clothing, coats, and other items I know friends and family can use.  So it’s still strange for me to think about charging anything for our stuff. But, now that we’re in more of a financial pinch these days, I’m feeling less guilty about trying to make (a tad bit of) money in an effort to help our family funds and I’m actually getting excited about it!

Richard Foster has a section on the “prayer of tears” in his book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.  I remember reading this years ago and feeling so encouraged that even through my wordless, tearful prayers, I am connecting with God.  I felt liberated from thinking I was just a silly emotional girl who frequently got overwhelmed by the world… to the point of tears.  I realized that the Holy Spirit was interceding for me through those tears.   I’ve experienced the prayer of tears a lot lately… and it has been both exhausting and wonderful.  I have experienced that raw dependence on the Lord that frequently gets overshadowed by my more intentional and “eloquent” prayers.  If you’ve ever prayed with me, you should laugh at the “eloquent” reference… all my prayers are a bit rugged and lack finesse!

Anyway, I believe prayer (communication with God) takes many shapes and formats… so be encouraged to BE REAL with the Lord.  Don’t try to fit your prayers into one mold or way of teaching.  It’s been a long time since I read Foster’s book but I think I’m going to revisit it… and be encouraged to pray constantly and with freedom.

Please click here and check out my hubby’s website redesign. He is creating an Old Testament reference website and needs feedback from potential readers. He really wants to create a modern and useful site for Christians to get information that will help them better study the OT. Tell him what you’d like to see on the site through this poll.

Thanks!

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

If you read Acts 2 in its entirety, it seems that the generosity that flowed out of the community of believers was from their awareness of God’s generosity through Christ toward them:

Acts 2: 23-24

“this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

I have some awesome friends who live generous lives within and beyond their fellow community of Christ followers.  Wilson’s Mom has clothed our boys with hand-me-downs for years, Northside Squirrel keeps my hair cut and colored (often times providing lunch as she does so).  She along with my Waynesville friend have given me tons of prayer support and encouragement during this pregnancy.  Norwood Mama has given and loaned me things ever since I first told her I was pregnant with Justice.  Adelaide’s Mama is one of the most hospitable and welcoming people I have ever met.  These women along with so many more (like my “Macedonian Princess” and Anna’s Mom) have prayed for me, encouraged me, and taught me so much about what it looks like to love Jesus and depend upon Him to meet the needs of me and my family.   My mom belongs at the top of this list for Christian generosity – not just for all that she does for me, but for the way she sacrifices her time and comfort to serve and encourage the ladies in her immediate church family! I am so thankful for my community of believers – both locally and globally!

These women encourage me to be more generous (something that I desire to be but seldom do).  They encourage me to look at possessions and time not as my own, but as that which belongs to the body of believers for the sake of the gospel.  Please join me in offering up a prayer of thanksgiving for these women and the women in your life who are living out their faith and doing it right!

Last week I started developing a blog post in my head regarding why I am interested in my hubby’s “faux seminary” that will be studying the Old Testament. I’m not a theologian and rarely want to dive into the Bible on the level Hubby enjoys. I tend to prefer reading the New Testament because it portrays God and Christ in ways that are “easier” for me to understand and accept.

However, I want to know God (my Creator and Savior) as fully as possible, so it makes sense that I should study the OT to do so.  It seems that is ultimately why my hubby wants to study to the OT as well. You can read his evolution regarding the purpose of OT study here: YouSeeDryBones.